Charter change may aid redistricted candidates

A Baltimore City Charter amendment introduced last night would allow a City Council candidate to represent a district even if boundary changes move the candidate into another district.

The amendment is intended to clarify the residency requirements for council candidates during a year when the districts are being redrawn and some council members could end up in different districts.

But even if approved, the amendment would only go before the voters during this year's election and thus would play no role.

Under the amendment, introduced by council President Mary Pat Clarke and Councilwoman Rochelle "Rikki" Spector, D-5th, candidates whose residency has been changed to a new district because of redistricting would be able to run for election in either the previous district or the new one. However, the winning candidates must live in the district they represent by the time they are sworn into office.

Currently, candidates whose residency changed with redistricting could not qualify to run in either district because the charter requires council candidates to live in the district they hope to represent for at least one year before the election.